By the end of the evening, we were quite sure of our future attendance. It was a night not to be missed, on a smaller scale than Carols at the Domain, but deserving of a wider audience. All singing of carols, whether listening to vocalists or instrumentalists and especially audience participation, brought forth a spirituality which truly belongs to this joyous and holy season of Christmas, celebrating the birth of our divine Saviour.

The evening was ably organized and commenced by Bozena Szymanska singing ‘Radosc Narodzenia’ followed by the well known and loved soprano voice of Halina Gad singing ‘Przybiezeli do Betlejem’ joined by the audience. This was followed by a very melodious and harmonious rendition of ‘Bialy Snieg’ by two lovely and talented young girls Amelka Gnatek and Gabrysia Zuchowska. This was so well received that there was an appreciative encore at the end of the evening.

They were followed by young Gabriel Snoch, singing ‘Bosy Pastuszek’ and ‘ Lulajze Jezuniu’. He commenced his artistic life as a junior dancer in “Lajkonik” and has beautifully demonstrated his talent as a singer. Two other young girls followed being Olga Kryj-Bednarski singing ‘Tobie, maly Panie’ and Abigail Latecki with ‘Koledowy czas’ and ‘Gdy sliczna panna’.

Bozena Szymanska returned singing ‘Gwiazda Nieba’, she was followed by a special treat of an orchestral performance by “L’estro Armonico String Orchestra” under the direction of Zdzislaw Kowalik. They performed ‘Silent Night’, a beautiful French carol ‘Le divine enfant’ and ‘Christmas Concerto Grosso’.

Halina Gad returned with ‘Wsrod Nocnej ciszy’ with enthusiastic audience participation once again. Number ten on the program was a strong and stirring rendition of ‘2000 years’ by Eugeniusz Kedziora which was very meaningful, and I would have loved to hear it again. Another special treat was performed on the saxophone and trumpet by Alex Agaciak playing ‘Cicha Noc’ and ‘A child is born’.

One of my personal favourites ‘O Holy Night’ was sung beautifully by Maja Kedziora and was very uplifting as usual. She then led the audience in singing ‘Gdy sie Chrystus rodzi’. Bozena Szymanska returned with her lovely voice singing another sweet favourite, ‘Oj maluski, maluski, maluski’ then on to another communal audience participation with Halina Gad singing ‘Jezus Malusienki’.

The end of this magical night was drawing near and we were treated to the last performance by the choir ‘Chor Tecza’ under the direction of Maja Kedziora. They were well worth the wait, singing ‘Zaplonela Gwiazda’, ‘Sliczna gwiazda’, ‘Przy onej Gorze’ and ‘Betlejemskie pole’ finishing with ‘Bog sie rodzi’ with audience participation.

This twentysixth annual Evening of Carols drew to a close with an address by Father Henryk Zasiura expressing warm words of appreciation and reflection on the beauty of hearing and singing our traditional Polish Christmas Carols and no matter where we are in the world, we are united in spirit and our souls are uplifted.

We encourage you to attend the “XXVII Evening of Carols” in 2014.

Lyn Iglinski
Photos Henry Iglinski